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Jesters, clowns and satyrs have always and everywhere been among us. They have made us laugh and weep. As outcasts their humour holds up a mirror to us, showing us our own folly and the folly of the world. They are the main characters in a musical, almost textless show set in the Appel theatre ring. Directed by Aus Greidanus, the show is a compilation of separate acts, each commenting on an aspect of the world of today. A colourful spectacle, in which Fellini, Fassbinder and De Appel's own playful acting tradition commingle.
What the papers said about 'And God saw everything and it was very good:'
''En God zag dat het goed was' consists of brief, generally catching scenes, enlivened by music. Seven out of the eight actors play the trombone, beautifully conducted by three professional musicians. The wind instruments carry the show: seven rather shabbily dressed musicians, each involved in his own private universe, in an attempt to collaborate. Group scenes are mostly wordless, surprising details render comic relief.' (de Volkskrant)
'Spoken language is virtually irrelevant in De Appel's 'En God zag dat het goed was'. Instead, body language, supported by angel trumpets, whistles, cowbells, and vacuum cleaners, dominates the show. Costumes, too, speak their part in this fresh commedia dell'arte production.' (Trouw)
'Characters hardly talk to each other, and then like strangers, distanced, or speaking only gibberish. Or they argue; or they gather for a brief moment to speak of a remarkable childbirth, and then go their own ways once again. Because of the lack of dialogue the show is similar to 'Dans', directed by Geert de Jong. ... Apart from that, one can enjoy a great many different musical styles, varying from melodies by Hans Nieuwint to Tchaikovsky to a heartbreaking blues in which God declares to be bored.' (Haagsche Courant)
'Toneelgroep De Appel's almost textless show doesn't tell a story in any traditional sense. 'En God zag dat het goed was' is an extraordinary theatre experience; in a sense, it is a form of abstract art, invoking the magic of the circus. At the end everybody has left except God, who remains, caught in a spotlight, like a lone stage manager. He has created the earth and now man must find his own way. Despite musical, theatrical and acrobatic tomfooleries, there is an undercurrent of melancholy. All this makes the show an extraordinary theatre experience, since each member of the audience is entirely free to follow his own associative pattern.' (NRC Handelsblad)
'And God saw everything and it was very good': performance time approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission. Appeltheater, Grote Zaal, The Hague. Thursday 8 until Sunday 18 September 2005. Show starts 8.15 p.m. except Mondays and Tuesdays. Sundays matinee only, 2 p.m.